AFSCME President Saunders Comments on Senate Health Care Bill’s Delayed Vote

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- The AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees - AFL-CIO) issued the following statement by President Lee Saunders issued the following statement on the postponement of a vote on the Senate health care bill:

"Senate leaders are delaying a vote on their health care bill because there isn't enough support to pass it. And there isn't enough support to pass it because the bill is a disaster, a cruel and callous plan that will cost 22 million people their health insurance and cut Medicaid by $772 billion. It will make the sick sicker and the poor poorer, squeezing working families while lavishing millionaires with yet another tax giveaway.

"Around the country, Americans are making themselves heard loud and clear - with calls to their senators' offices, participation in town hall meetings and more. With members returning to their home states next week for Congressional recess, it's time to raise the volume even higher, to let our elected representatives know that this legislation is an assault on our values. Regardless of party or ideology, we should be able to agree that this is not a game, and it's not about scoring political points; health care is a matter of life and death. This struggle isn't over yet, but with strong grassroots energy and continued resistance, we can defeat this bill once and for all."